God Always Forgives

Children’s Chapel

June 12, 2016
Proper 6C

Theme: God always forgives us.

Welcome: Children will enter quietly and sit together on the floor. Welcome all children and ask if there are any new friends today.

Preview the Story: How many of you have every said “I’m sorry” or have had someone tell you “I’m sorry.”  What do the words “I’m sorry” mean and why do we say it? Sometimes we may do something that hurts another person’s feelings either by what we say or do. We may do something that we know or maybe don’t know is not a good thing to do. We are made in God’s image, but we are human so that means that we are not perfect and that’s ok. We are God’s children and even when we do something that is not good, God still loves us and forgives us. Today we are going hear a Bible story about God’s forgiveness.

           

The Bible Story: (Read Aloud)

Luke 7:36 - 8:3

³⁶One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. ³⁷And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. ³⁸She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. ³⁹Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.” ⁴⁰Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “Speak.” ⁴¹“A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴²When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” ⁴³Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” ⁴⁴Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. ⁴⁵You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” ⁴⁸Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” ⁴⁹But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Respond to the Story: In the story we just listened to Jesus has dinner with a Pharisee who in Jesus’ time was a very important religious man. A woman came in and began washing Jesus’ feet with her tears and anointing his feet with expensive oil. This may seem really strange if someone did this today. But in Jesus’ times, they wore sandals and their feet got dusty on the dirt roads that the people traveled. It was not strange for a person to be offered a bowl of water to wash their feet when they came to a person’s home. But the Pharisee did not offer Jesus a bowl to wash his feet. The woman who came into the room where Jesus was had done many things she for which she was very sorry. She recognized that Jesus was a very holy man. We know that Jesus is God’s Son and is God himself. When the woman washed Jesus’ feet with her tears he knew that she was very sorry and he told her that she was forgiven. No matter what we do or say that may be hurtful or wrong, God always forgives us. We may feel great sadness for what we have done as the woman who cried over Jesus’ feet did. We can find peace and hope in knowing that God always forgives us.

Pray:  Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us as your children and for always being with us. Thank you for always forgiving us even when we have done something that hurts others. Help us to follow your ways of love. In your holy name, Amen.

Response Activity: Forgiveness craft